Matters got rolling in the first minute of first-half stoppage time, as fellow Designated Player Carles Gil picked out Bou atop the 18-yard box on a corner kick. Bou, signed last week from Club Tijuana of Liga MX, emphatically sliced home a side volley past Maxime Crepeau to make it 1-0.

The breakthrough came after New England controlled much of the first half, with Brandon Bye striking the post in the 15th minute and Crepeau denying Juan Fernando Caicedo on the doorstep in 36th.

Vancouver grew into the match after halftime, as Theo Bair nearly equalized in the 50th minute. The Homegrown Player flicked on a Lucas Venuto cross, only to find woodwork at the back post.

But New England began to put the game out of reach in the 82nd minute on Diego Fagundez’s first goal of the year. Fellow second-half substitute Cristian Penilla crossed to the back post, where Fagundez calmly headed past Crepeau across goal.

Adding insult to injury, Gil then shaped home a left-footed curler in the 86th minute to make it 3-0. Wanting to get in on the fun, Teal Bunbury added a fourth in the 89th minute as he collected a cross from Penilla.

Goals

Three Things

BIG PICTURE: New England was comprehensive from start to finish, moving to 5-0-4 in their last nine league games since Brad Friedel was dismissed as head coach in early May. The pieces continue to come together for Bruce Arena and Co., as they march up the Eastern Conference standings. As for Vancouver, it’s now four straight losses and a mark of 0-4-3 across their last seven league matches. The slide continues.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH: It was the type of debut goal most forwards only dream of, except Gustavo Bou pulled it off. His volley is bound to be played on repeat and is an early Goal of the Week contender.

MAN OF THE MATCH: The Gustavo Bou golazo will get all the headlines, but Carles Gil pulled the strings on a rain-soaked evening. He now has six goals and seven assists on the year, affirming his place as a premier creative midfielder in MLS.

Next Up

NE: Sunday, July 21 at FC Cincinnati (6pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US, on DAZN in Canada)